An understanding of the pathways responsible for differentiation in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) would accelerate their translation to medical therapies. Specifically, studies that identify criteria for the better design of experiments targeting...

The traditional roles of the tumor suppressor protein, p53, in transcriptional regulation are mostly defined in cancer or stressed cells and are centered on control of the cell cycle, DNA repair or senescence. In this thesis, data is presented...

Astrocytes display a complex, stellate morphology in the brain, commensurate with their role in regulating nearly every functional aspect of the central nervous system. Innate activation of astrocytes is a classic hallmark of neurologic injury and...

In 2005, 1.6 million Americans lived with a debilitating amputation and this figure is predicted to double by 2050. But the ability of a mammal to recapitulate a complex limb structure is not impossible. Evidence of children and mice re-growing...

Non-lethal amputation injuries following a typical wound healing response, in human beings may result in lifelong disability. Therefore, the ability to induce regeneration of amputated limbs, similar to axolotls, is of primary interest of...

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) accounts for 15% of all diagnosed breast cancers nationally and affects African-American women 3 times more likely than any other ethnic group. Locally, African-American women in the New Orleans area see higher...

The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous gamma herpes virus for which an estimated 90% of the human population is seropositive by adulthood. EBV has been implicated in a number of lymphocyte and epithelial malignancies and is considered the...